Iris re-intensified into a hurricane and attained peak sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) while moving slowly across the central Atlantic.

At around 1200 UTC, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) classified the system as Tropical Depression Ten about 690 mi (1,110 km) east of the Lesser Antilles.

[3] In real-time, the NHC upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Iris at 1500 UTC on August 23,[4] or about 21 hours later than assessed in post-analysis.

[4] A hurricane hunters flight late on August 23 indicated that Iris was significantly stronger, reporting 10–second sustained winds of 106 mph (171 km/h) at flight-level.

[1] Based on the reading, it is estimated Iris attained hurricane status around 1800 UTC that day, or about three hours after it was named.

An upper-level low north of Puerto Rico increased wind shear over the hurricane, which dislocated the center from the deep convection.

[6] A new circulation became the dominant center as the storm continued westward, and Iris brushed Saint Lucia early on August 26.

[8] On August 28, Iris moved away from the Lesser Antilles, and at 1800 UTC re-attained hurricane status as it began a steady motion to the north-northwest.

By that time, the eye had become distinct and well-organized,[13] and at 0600 UTC that day, Iris attained peak winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) to the southeast of Bermuda.

[1] An approaching trough turned Iris to the north,[14] and early on September 3, the hurricane passed about 350 mi (565 km) east of Bermuda.

[16] The next day, the winds strengthened to hurricane-status,[1] and the storm maintained a track to the east due to a ridge weakening to the north.

[1] Before Iris moved through the Lesser Antilles, tropical storm watches, and later warnings, were issued from Barbados through the British Virgin Islands.

[22] To the northwest, the hurricane moved over Montserrat,[1] causing additional problems on the island just weeks after the Soufrière Hills volcano began erupting.

[24] Further north, Iris dropped 6 in (150 mm) of rain on Antigua, which destroyed banana trees and caused flooding in low-lying areas.